Spanish Vocabulary Basic level

Dishes & meals · Los platos

21 Spanish words — each with a picture, audio and an example sentence. From paella to ceviche — plato is both the plate and what's on it.

Dishes & meals
PictureEnglishSpanish · EspañolNotes
el platodishel plato
el plato fuerte — the main course.
la sopasoupla sopa
Hasta en la sopa — 'everywhere you look.'
la ensaladasaladla ensalada
🔗 Word familyFrom sal (salt) — the same root as English 'salad'.
la paellapaellala paella
The famous rice dish of Valencia, Spain.
los tacostacoslos tacos
Mexico's national dish — a rolled tortilla with filling.
el guacamoleguacamoleel guacamole
🔗 Word familyFrom Nahuatl (Aztec): aguacate (avocado) + mole (sauce).
la tortillatortillala tortilla
🌎 RegionIn Mexico: a flatbread; in Spain: a potato omelette (tortilla española).
la empanadaempanadala empanada
A filled pastry — very common in Argentina and Chile.
el asadoasadoel asado
🔗 Word familyFrom asar (to roast). Argentina and Uruguay: meat grilled over fire — and the social event itself.
el cevichecevicheel ceviche
Raw fish in lime — Peru's national dish.
la hamburguesahamburgerla hamburguesa
The Spanish ending is -esa; the h is silent.
la pizzapizzala pizza
la pastapastala pasta
🌎 RegionIn Spain, pasta is also slang for money.
el sándwichsandwichel sándwich
🌎 RegionIn Spain, on a baguette: el bocadillo.
las papas fritasfrench frieslas papas fritas
🌎 RegionIn Spain: patatas fritas.
el puré de papasmashed potatoesel puré de papas
🌎 RegionIn Spain: puré de patatas.
el huevo fritofried eggel huevo frito
Frito is the irregular participle of freír (to fry).
el postredessertel postre
De postre — 'for dessert.'
el heladoice creamel helado
🔗 Word familyFrom helar (to freeze) — literally 'the frozen one'.
el pastelcakeel pastel
🌎 RegionIn Spain: la tarta; in Argentina: la torta.
las galletascookieslas galletas
🔗 Word familyFrom French galette.
See also:Food & drinkFruitVegetables